Andrew l



(No Model.)

A. BIKER. MOUNTING FOR ELEUTRIG MOTORS.

N0. 443,227. Patented Dec. 23,1890, FIG- I we cams ravens co PNDTDLXYHO., wAsumcToN, u. L:

UNITED STATES PATENT FFiCE.

ANDREXV L. BIKER, OF NETV YORK, J. Y.

MOUNTING FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,227, dated December23, 1890.

Application filed April 28, 1889. Serial No. 308,292. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW L. BIKER, of New York city, in the county andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inMountings for- Electric Motors upon a Car or other Vehicle, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has reference to the mode of mounting or supporting thepropelling electric motor upon a railway-car or other vehicle to bedriven by such motor. The motors are usually supported under the carbodybetween the wheels, one end of the motor-frame resting on the axle. Inovercoming the inertia of the car and its load,when starting into motiongreat strain is put upon the gearing between the car-axle and thearmature-shaft, to relieve which it is common to pivot the motor-frame011 the axle and to support the other end bya stiff spring, thus pro.

viding a flexible connection, which permits the motor as a whole to turnon the car-axle as a center, sufficiently to avoid the danger ofbreaking some of the parts whenever a start is made. As soon as theinertia which opposes the start is overcome, the strain being relaxed,the motor resumes its normal position.

The present invention has reference to this general plan of supportingthe motor; and it consists in novel features of construction andarrangement of the supporting parts, whereby additional security againstbreakage is obtained, as well as simplicity and economy in construction.

In the accompany ing drawings, which form part of this specification,Figure I is a plan view of a truck having the driving-motors mountedthereon in accordance with my invention. Fig. II is a side view of thesame, one of the wheels being removed, and Fig. 111 is an end view.

The drawings show the vehicle provided with two propelling-motors, as iscommonly the case. The supporting devices are in all respects duplicatesof each other, and therefore it will only be necessary for the purposesof explanation to refer to one motor and its accessory parts. Theduplicate parts are indicated by similar letters and figures.

A represents the oar-axle, upon which is sus pended a casting B, hereincalled the supporting frame or carriage to distinguish it from the frameof the motor proper. It consists of an. end part or base 2, with twoparallel side arms 3 and 4. The latter have near the base or end groovesin which fit the axle A, the frame being secured pivotally thereonbystraps 5, The said frame has projecting up from the base an uprightportion '7, which is perforated near its upper end. The supporting-rod 0passes loosely through this perforation. On each side of the upright 7and surrounding rod 0 is a stiff coiled spring 8 and 9, which bear inopposite directions against the upright 7 and at their other I endsagainst collars 18 and 19 on rod 0. By

means of these springs the casting B is held normally in a horizontalposition, but is capable of tilting in either direction against theresistance of the springs.

D represents the base or yoke of the motor to which the cores of thefield magnets E are bolted. The motor is mounted by bolting the base Dthereof to theend 2 of casting B by means of bolts 10. The collars 11,in which are the bearings of the armature-shaft 12, rest in grooves nearthe free end of casting B and are confined by the straps 13. Theintermediate shaft 1% has bearings formed by the casting B and straps15. Motion is transmitted from the pinion b on the armatureshaft to thegear 0 on the intermediate shaft 14, and a pinion d on this shaft 1Aturns the gear e on axle A.

The rod 0 extends from end to end of the truck and serves for both themotors. The rod 0 should of course be held rigidly which maybe done inany suitable way. As shown, it passes through the blocks or ribs 9projecting downwardly from the portion H of the car frame or truck, therod being held from longitudinal motion by the bolts 6 which areinserted in holes in said rod close to projections g.

The motion of the carriage B and motor on the car-axle as a center,which motion is permitted by the sprin s 8 and 9, (when sufficient forceis exerted to overcome them,) is limited by chains 19 20, attached tothe bottom of the car, (or it may be to part of the truck if theconstruction admits of it.) These chains ordinarily are slack and do notsupport any part IOC of the weight of the motor and its mounting; but inaddition to limiting the motion thereof and preventing undue compressionof the springs they also serve in case of breakage of the latter tosupport the motor and prevent it either striking the ground or raisingitself into the bottom of the car.

The shape of carriage B admits of its being cast in one piece, and themotor can be made and finished complete before it is mounted. It is thenput in place and bolted to the base 2 of the carriage, the intermediateshaft ll slipped between the field-magnets and confined by straps 15,and the gears then put in place.

In starting the car it is obvious that the two motors tend to turn inopposite directionsthat is to say, one raises itself with its mountingwhile the other moves on its supporting-axle away from the'car-body. Ifthe inertia to be OVGICOIDG is so great that the motion of themotor-carriage exceeds the slack of the chains, (which is but a fewinches,) the latter supplement the force of the springs in resisting themotion of the motors. It should be noted, however, that resistanceoffered by the chain is a yielding resistance, for'the strain upon themtends to compress the ordinary springs by which the car-body issupported. Thus, even if the springs S 9 should break, the chains 19 20constitute a flexible or yielding support for the motors, utilizing theordinary car-springs. The construction is such that the resistanceopposed to the motors is slight at first, but increases in force withthe deflection of the motors from their normal horizontal position.

Having now fully explained my said invention, what I claim is- 1. Amounting for the propelling-motor of a vehicle, comprising incombination a sup porting frame or carriage pivoted on one of the axles,springsbearing on aportion of said frame or carriage and pressing inopposite directions, and chains arranged to limit the motion of saidframe or carriage and to sup port the same in case of breakage of saidsprings, substantially as described.

2. In a mounting for the propelling electric motor of a vehicle, thecombination of a carriage consisting of a base or end portion and sidearms cast in one piece, said carriage be ing pivoted on the car-axle, astationary or rigidly-held supportingi'od, and springs surrounding saidrod and bearing on opposite sides of a projection of said: carriage,substantially as described.

In combination with the truck of a car or other vehicle, a mounting forthe propelling electric motor, saidmounting comprising a carriage havinga base or end provided with a projecting plate and side arms, all castin one piecc,'said arms being grooved for the reception of the axle andthe shafts'of the driving-gear, confining-straps for said shaft andaxle, a supporting-rod, springs surrounding said rod and holding saidcarriage in place with yielding pressure, and chains arranged to limitthe motion of said carriage on said axle in both directions,substantially as described.

+1. The combination, with the truckof a car or other vehicle, of amotor, a supporting frame or carriage therefor journaled on thecar-axle, and safety-chains connecting said frame or carriage with thecar-body, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signedthis specification in thepresencc oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW L. BIKER. Witnesses:

PHILIP MAURO, CHARLES J. llEDnIcK.

